Ink jet recording ink

Abstract

An ink for ink jet recording and an ink jet recording method are provided which can realize a print having high color density and, even on recycled paper, a print having no significant feathering. The ink for ink jet recording comprises a water-soluble colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent, water, and a compound represented by the following formula (I), (II), or (III): ##STR1##

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink for ink jet recording, comprising at least a water-soluble colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent, water, and a compound represented by the following formula (I), (II), or (III): ##STR7## wherein R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14  each independently represent a C 1-6  alkyl group, A and B each independently represent a group consisting of an ethyleneoxy group and/or a propyleneoxy group, provided that any one of A and B contains at least one propyleneoxy group, and   the total number of ethyleneoxy groups and propyleneoxy groups is 2 to 60; ##STR8## wherein any one of R 21  and R 22  represents H with the other substituent representing CH 3  or H, and any one of R 23  and R 24  represents H with the other substituent representing CH 3  or H,   when any one of R 21  and R 22  represents H, both R 23  and R 24  represent H, and   when both R 21  and R 22  represent H, at least one of R 23  and R 24  represents CH 3 ,   R 25  represents a butyl group, and   m and n each are a number satisfying 2≦m+n≦6;   provided that the compounds wherein R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , and R 24  all represent H are excluded, and ##STR9## wherein R 31  represents a C 4-10  alkyl group in which R 31  is iso-butyl or t-butyl if the C 4-10  alkyl group is a C 4  alkyl group, and wherein p is an integer of 3 to 6.   
     
     
       2. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (1) is present in the ink and has an HLB value of not less than 7. 
     
     
       3. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (I) is present in the ink in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       4. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (II) is present in the ink in an amount of 0.5 to 30% by weight. 
     
     
       5. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (III) is present in the ink in an amount of 3 to 30% by weight. 
     
     
       6. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble colorant comprises a water-soluble dye and/or a water-soluble pigment dispersible in water. 
     
     
       7. The ink according to claim 6, wherein the water-soluble colorant comprises a water-soluble pigment, and the ink further comprises an emulsion. 
     
     
       8. The ink according to claim 7, wherein the amount of the emulsion added is 1 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       9. The ink according to claim 7, wherein the emulsion has a core/shell structure comprising a core and a shell surrounding the core, the shell comprising a crosslinked resin. 
     
     
       10. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink comprises the compound represented by the formula (I). 
     
     
       11. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink comprises the compound represented by the formula (II). 
     
     
       12. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink comprises the compound represented by the formula (III), and R 31  represents iso-butyl or t-butyl. 
     
     
       13. An ink jet recording method comprising the step of ejecting a droplet of an ink composition and depositing the droplet onto a recording medium to perform printing, wherein the ink composition is one according to claim 1. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the droplet of the ink composition is ejected through a nozzle head having a water-repellent surface. 
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the water-repellent surface of the nozzle head is a surface having thereon an eutectoid plating of tetrafluoroethylene and a non-oxidizable metal. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the ink for ink jet recording has a contact angle of not less than 50° on the water-repellent surface of the nozzle head. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the droplet of the ink composition is ejected using an electrostrictive element and, when the ink composition is not ejected, the ink composition is slightly moved by the electrostrictive element to such an extent that the ink is not delivered from the nozzle. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the content of the water-soluble colorant in the ink composition is 3 to 15% by weight. 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the ink composition is filled into an ink cartridge packed with a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
       20. A record produced by the method according to claim 13.